quippe | Entries tagged with picture book

The Blurb On The Back:

Pedro likes everything to be perfect.

His pile of toys …

His roly-polies …

And even his friends.

When Pedro meets Poppy, he thinks he’s met the perfect friend, until they enter the school talent show together. Poppy’s approach is definitely not perfect. But maybe she can show Pedro that perfection is not always what it’s cracked up to be …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Simon Philip’s lovely picture book about not putting pressure on yourself by trying to be perfect all the time and instead just focus on enjoying yourself, features delightful illustrations by Ella Oksted that convey a real sense of energy and movement. Young readers will enjoy the colours and the mischievous sense of humour and adults will enjoy the book’s central message.

PERFECT PEDRO was released in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2025. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

All the caterpillars on the broad green leaf dream of being absolutely beautiful butterflies. All except one - Frank.

Frank is a very plain caterpillar, and he’s quite happy that way. But what will happen when Frank turns into a butterfly?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Alex Latimer’s self-illustrated picture books is a charming little delight that’s all about how to be happy with who you are and what you have rather than focusing on your appearance and how you compare with others. Frank is a great central character and I really enjoyed the little chat bubbles and Latimer’s use of colour. Young readers will love this and there’s plenty here for adult readers to find fun too.

FRANK IS A BUTTERFLY was released in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2025. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Ibraheem LOVES Eid.

What’s not to love?

There’s games and snacks and … PRESENTS!

Eid is ALL about the presents - isn’t it?

Join Ibraheem as he hunts of this gifts and discovers all the things that make Eid wonderful.

A heartwarming celebration of Eid, curious children and family love.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani’s picture book is a colourful, joyous exploration of the social, family and spiritual meaning of Eid that aims to show young readers that the celebration is not just about receiving gifts. I liked the fact that it’s aimed at Muslim readers but it does miss a trick by not giving a bit more context or explanations for non-Muslims who may want to know more about it.

IBRAHEEM’S PERFECT EID was released in the United Kingdom on 27 February 2025. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Leora loves everything about Hanukkah, the candles, the food … and especially Bubba and Zaida’s stories.

And this year she has a very special wish … but will it come true and make this the happiest Hanukkah ever?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Ivor Baddiel and Kathryn Selbert’s picture book (part of a series on faith/ethnic holidays) explains what Hanukkah involves and why it’s celebrated and Selbert’s colourful illustrations bring the family bond to life. My only criticism is that I didn’t quite understand why Leora was so intent on lighting the candle and why it was important to her but otherwise it’s a solid way of introducing the holiday to young readers who are unfamiliar with it.

THE HAPPIEST HANUKKAH was released in the United Kingdom on 7 November 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

First Festivals

Holi has arrived!

Lift the flaps to discover the joy and celebration of this special holiday

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This board book features delightfully energetic illustrations by Darshika Varma and sets out the different elements that go to make up the Holi festival. Varma’s illustrations show different generations and use lots of bright colours. However the use of the flaps is a little underwhelming and they’re quite flimsy and susceptible to tearing in small hands, which is a shame because I think this is a nice introduction to the festival.

FIRST FESTIVALS - HOLI was released in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2025. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

The Squirrels need to be QUIET while watching a butterfly but Roly’s being LOUD - which is the opposite!

Join everyone’s favourite dog in this up-and-down tale for budding young Squirrels.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This entertaining educational board book that explains what “opposite” means and gives a number of examples. The illustrations are jolly and young readers will learn about big and small, young and old (although learning that 42 and 3 quarters is old felt like a significant kick in the guts), wet and dry among others. All in all it’s a book that young readers will enjoy and learn something from and perfect for Hey Duggee fans.

HEY DUGGEE - THE OPPOSITES BADGE was released in the United Kingdom on 13th June 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

One night, Jeremiah plants a packet of tiny sunflower seeds and makes a wish …

The next morning, a magical array of vines and leaves has burst through the ceiling of his apartment! When Jeremiah and his brother chase the plant up through the floors of their tower-block home, will they discover something even more magical along the way?

A glorious and uplifting story about the power of nature and community.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Lanisha Butterfield and Hoan Giang’s picture book is a luscious celebration of life, nature and community. The colours are vibrant and the illustrations packed with character and a sense of place and I liked the fact that there is also a subtle sense of grief in the background as Theo and Jeremiah are dealing with the death of their father. All in all it’s an entertaining read that shows the importance of neighbourhood and connection.

FLOWER BLOCK was released in the United Kingdom on 6th June 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

For years, the king and queen have longed for a child. At last their wish is granted, in the form of a little wooden robot and an enchanted log princess. There’s just one catch: every night, the princess turns back into a log.

When the princess is mistaken for an ordinary log, her brother sets out to save her - and their adventure begins.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Tom Gauld’s picture book is one that’s destined to be a future classic. Charming, intelligent, full of wit, whimsy and warmth there’s plenty of jokes in there for both young and older readers (in my view, probably better for youngsters aged 5+). There’s plenty of potential here for a sequel, which I would definitely want to check out.

The Blurb On The Back:

On a frozen sea, where the snow falls fast,
And the whirlwinds rage and storm,
A rockhopper egg, in a stony nest,
Was lying safe and warm.

Dad watched and waited, waited, watched.
The night grew inky black.
Then he fell into a sleep so deep,
He didn’t hear the … CRACK!

Daddy Penguin finds himself adrift in an unfamiliar world, and he must get back to his egg!

From train to helicopter, hot-air balloon to limousine, Penguin hitches lifts with kindly folk - but will he be home in time?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Anna Kemp and Alice Courtley’s warm and charming picture book, told in rhyming verse, is an epic and sweet tale of how kind other people can be and all the different types of transport there are. I very much enjoyed Courtley’s colourful illustrations, which have lots of lovely little details (my favourite being the headphone on a flamingo helicopter pilot and the teddy bear that Daddy Penguin carries with him).

PENGUIN’S EGG was released in the United Kingdom on 2nd May 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

When Harold Humdinger turns Cap’n Turbot’s Lighthouse into a space rocket, he doesn’t realise the captain is trapped inside!

Join the Mighty Pups as they use their superpowers to hep with a Charged Up rescue!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This board book for younger readers is a bit of a disappointment as both the story and the language comes across as too sophisticated for the board book form while the illustrations are computer generated and somewhat soulless. If you have a young Paw Patrol fan then they will enjoy seeing the pups using their powers, but otherwise I don’t think it’s worth their time

PAW PATROL - MIGHTY PUPS was released in the United Kingdom on 25th April 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Dive into Puplantis!

Get ready to dive into a deep-sea rescue with the AQUA PUPS!

When Mayor Humdinger steals from the magical underwater city of Puplantis, it’s up to the PAW Patrol and their Mer-pup friend Coral to save the day.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This picture book (adapted by Matt Huntley from the episode ‘Aqua Pups Save A Merdinger’ by Jeffrey Duteil) has a lot of action but is very much for hardcore Paw Patrol fans as it assumes you know who the characters are and what the set-up is. There were times when I was confused as to who was who and the action is also a little confusing at times but if your young reader is a fan of the cartoon then it should pose them no problems.

PAW PATROL - DIVE INTO PUPLANTIS was released in the United Kingdom on 4th January 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

It’s time for dinner!

Discover delicious foods of every shape with The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This board book, made with the Eric Carle estate, is a colourful introduction to shapes and different types of food for very young readers. It’s solidly put together but I must confess that I did not understand why there is a hole in the middle of each page (I later learned it’s for the Caterpillar to crawl through) and one of the shapes (a squiggly line) isn’t what I would immediately think of as a shape.

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR EATS DINNER was released in the United Kingdom on 7th March 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Arwel is having a fine day.

Yes, there’s a cloud above his head.

Yes, it’s growing.

But he is FINE, really he is …

But the cloud GROWS, LOOMS, and gets in his way, until Arwel has to admit that there’s a Storm-Cat outside - and it’s waiting for him!

After a spectacular storm comes the comforting calm, as Arwel learns that you CAN’T change your weather, but you CAN change what you make of it.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Magenta Fox’s self-illustrated picture book is beautifully drawn. Arwel, his grandmother, Tuft and the Storm-Cat are filled with character and great details that keep you absorbed and looking for more. However, I think that the overarching theme - that it’s okay for you to be overwhelmed by your emotions and best to let them out and acknowledge them - to be a little too sophisticated for the target audience and consequently didn’t work for me.

STORM-CAT was released in the United Kingdom on 7th March 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

KAMARA loves being SUPER STRONG - it makes her feel FIZZY and ZAPPY!

But negative words from her classmates make her doubt herself. With sports day looming, will Kamara find the confidence to be STRONG inside and out?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Kelechi Okafor and Michaela Dias-Hayes’s picture book combines the themes of retaining your confidence when you’re being criticised and celebrating the different kinds of strength that people have and what makes you special into an inspiring, beautifully illustrated story. I particularly liked the list of strong people at the end of the book, which is a good way of having a follow-up conversation with your young reader about the book’s themes.

STRONG LIKE ME was released in the United Kingdom on 1st February 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Amazing sisters are everywhere!

Some sisters are twirly.
Some are whirly.
Some are brand new …
And some NEED THE LOO!

Every sister is different.
But when you need a helping had or a great big hug …

They’ll always be therefor you!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Alison Brown’s picture book (part of a series about family members) is a cute affair that celebrates the different kind of sisters you can have and your relationship with them. The rhyming is a bit twee in parts but I enjoyed the illustrations, which have energy and humour to them. If you are looking for a gift for a young sister or young sister to be, then I would definitely suggest this.

AMAZING SISTER was released in the United Kingdom on 4th January 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Thomas and Bruno

Join Thomas and his new friend Bruno for an ALL ENGINES GO adventure!

Diesel is given an urgent job to do, but Bruno, the new brake car, wants him to slow down and be careful. Diesel doesn’t see things the way Bruno does, and he races straight into a rockslide. Can the pair work as a team to get back on track?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Christy Webster’s picture book adaptation of the THOMAS & FRIENDS episode, ‘Shake, Rattle, and Bruno’ (by Daniel Share-Strom) is an enjoyable read that suggests Bruno is neuro-divergent (he memorises the train schedule to keep calm) and emphasises the importance of listening, not rushing into things and working together in order to resolve things. Although the pictures are a little flat and generic, young readers should still enjoy the story.

THOMAS AND BRUNO was released in the United Kingdom on 6th July 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Once there was a girl. She had a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams.

The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning and bestselling creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Vashti Harrison’s self-illustrated picture book is a beautifully executed look at fat bias and its impact on young children. The text is sparse with the focus on the images of the nameless little girl as she endures the taunts and well-meaning but still hurtful comments from adults. It’s wonderfully done and very moving such that I am still thinking about it. I’d definitely read more of Harrison’s work on the strength of this.

BIG was released in the United Kingdom on 11th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Discover a world of friendship and adventure where feelings are always welcome!

The sun is shining and the Little Seasons are on their way to the beach. But Summer is feeling hot and bothered. With one setback after another, his emotions are bubbling over.

Luckily Summer’s friends know the perfect way to relax: building a giant sandcastle. The only trouble is, no one has noticed a big wave rolling in …

Perfect for any little reader learning how to manage big emotions.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The third book in Jo Lindley’s self-illustrated picture book series is a charming look at the fun things that you can do in the summer but also how to handle it when you feel angry and everything gets on top of you because things keep going wrong. I enjoyed Lindley’s illustrations and the friendship of the four Little Seasons really comes through such that I’d be happy to read the other three books in this series.

HELLO SUMMER was released in the United Kingdom on 8th June 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

At the edge of the field, Oliver saw something lying in the mud. It was a bird made of iron.

Then something amazing happened …

From an acclaimed literary voice comes a magical story which explores friendship, loyalty and the power of hope.

Oliver loves birds - watching them soar into the sky and wishing that just sometimes they would stay close. So when he discovers a robin made of iron, he thinks he’s found the perfect friend - even if his toy dragon isn’t quite so sure!

When the robin begins to glimmer and hop, Oliver is amazed. But in a terrible turn of events, his new friend is lost.

Nevertheless, there is wonder and excitement ahead for Oliver - with a storm on the horizon and Iron Robin’s magic in the air …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Rose Tremain’s debut picture book has some beautiful writing but it isn’t clear if Oliver’s affinity for the robin comes from loneliness, although I did enjoy the snarky Draggi. Richard Jones’s illustrations are superb and really get across Oliver’s isolation and the robin’s magic. All in all, I think it’s a good read but the open ending and the fact that some of the themes are not fully explored may make it go over some young readers’ heads.

IRON ROBIN was released in the United Kingdom on 18th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Meet Duggee. He runs the Squirrel Club!

Duggee is telling the Squirrels all about their first days at Squirrel Club. Roly was very quiet, Happy was scared of water and Tag wasn’t so good at listening. But Duggee had an idea!

Join Duggee and the Squirrels in this adorable tale and collect your First Day Badge!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This entertaining picture book has been adapted by Rebecca Gerlings from 5 episodes of the kids’ cartoon HEY DUGGEE! (originally written by James Walsh) sets out how the 5 very different Squirrels handled their first days and how Duggee and the other Squirrels tried to make it easier for them. It’s all very charming and although I’m not familiar with the TV cartoon, I can see why it’s so popular with pre-schoolers.

HEY DUGGEE - FIRST DAY AT SQUIRREL CLUB was released in the United Kingdom on 27th April 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

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January 2026

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Page Summary

Perfect Pedro by Simon Philip and Ella Okstad
Frank Is A Butterfly by Alex Latimer
Ibraheem’s Perfect Eid by Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani
The Happiest Hanukkah by Ivor Baddiel and Kathryn Selbert
First Festivals: Holi
Hey Duggee! The Opposites Badge by Rebecca Gerlings
Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield and Hoang Giang
The Little Wooden Robot And The Log Princess by Tom Gauld
Penguin’s Egg by Anna Kemp and Alice Courtley
Paw Patrol – Mighty Pups
Paw Patrol – Dive Into Puplantis by Matt Huntley
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Dinner
Storm-Cat by Magenta Fox
Strong Like Me by Kelechi Okafor and Michaela Dias-Hayes
Amazing Sister by Alison Brown
Thomas & Friends – Thomas and Bruno by Christy Webster
Big by Vashti Harrison
Hello Summer by Jo Lindley
Iron Robin by Rose Tremain
Hey Duggee – First Day At Squirrel Club adapted by Rebecca Gerlings

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I Read, Therefore I Blog

A Book Review Blog Belonging to Caroline Hooton

Entries tagged with picture book

Perfect Pedro by Simon Philip and Ella Okstad

Frank Is A Butterfly by Alex Latimer

Ibraheem’s Perfect Eid by Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani

The Happiest Hanukkah by Ivor Baddiel and Kathryn Selbert

First Festivals: Holi

Hey Duggee! The Opposites Badge by Rebecca Gerlings

Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield and Hoang Giang

The Little Wooden Robot And The Log Princess by Tom Gauld

Penguin’s Egg by Anna Kemp and Alice Courtley

Paw Patrol – Mighty Pups

Paw Patrol – Dive Into Puplantis by Matt Huntley

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Dinner

Storm-Cat by Magenta Fox

Strong Like Me by Kelechi Okafor and Michaela Dias-Hayes

Amazing Sister by Alison Brown

Thomas & Friends – Thomas and Bruno by Christy Webster

Big by Vashti Harrison

Hello Summer by Jo Lindley

Iron Robin by Rose Tremain

Hey Duggee – First Day At Squirrel Club adapted by Rebecca Gerlings